Bottom Line:
Pyrosequencing analysis of PCR-amplified 16S rDNA was used to examine BV-associated bacteria in monogamous couples with and without BV using vaginal, male urethral, and penile skin specimens.The penile skin and urethral microbiota of male partners of women with BV was significantly more similar to the vaginal microbiota of their female partner compared to the vaginal microbiota of non-partner women with BV.Specific BV-associated species were concordant in women with BV and their male partners.

Background: The epidemiology of bacterial vaginosis (BV) suggests it is sexually transmissible, yet no transmissible agent has been identified. It is probable that BV-associated bacterial communities are transferred from male to female partners during intercourse; however, the microbiota of sexual partners has not been well-studied.

Results: Pyrosequencing analysis of PCR-amplified 16S rDNA was used to examine BV-associated bacteria in monogamous couples with and without BV using vaginal, male urethral, and penile skin specimens. The penile skin and urethral microbiota of male partners of women with BV was significantly more similar to the vaginal microbiota of their female partner compared to the vaginal microbiota of non-partner women with BV. This was not the case for male partners of women with normal vaginal microbiota. Specific BV-associated species were concordant in women with BV and their male partners.

Conclusions: In monogamous heterosexual couples in which the woman has BV, the significantly higher similarity between the vaginal microbiota and the penile skin and urethral microbiota of the male partner, supports the hypothesis that sexual exchange of BV-associated bacterial taxa is common.

Fig1: Comparison of unweighted UniFrac distances between the microbiota of sexual partners and non-partners. a BV-couples and b normal-couples. The analyses were stratified by the circumcision status of the male partners and include penile skin and male urethral specimens as indicated. P values are from paired t tests

Mentions:
We examined the influence of monogamous sexual partnerships on the composition of genital microbiota within couples (Fig. 1). The results showed that in the case of BV-couples, the penile skin communities of BV-males were significantly more similar to the vaginal communities of their sexual partner, compared to the other (non-partner) women in the study. This was true regardless of whether the BV-males were circumcised (P = 0.0018) or uncircumcised (P = 0.0027) (Fig. 1a). In the case of BV male urethral specimens, only the microbiota of uncircumcised BV-males was significantly more similar to the vaginal microbiota of their partner (P = 0.0015) (Fig. 1). Finally, among normal-couples, neither the penile skin nor the male urethral microbiota were more similar among sexual partners compared to non-partners (Fig. 1b).Fig. 1

Fig1: Comparison of unweighted UniFrac distances between the microbiota of sexual partners and non-partners. a BV-couples and b normal-couples. The analyses were stratified by the circumcision status of the male partners and include penile skin and male urethral specimens as indicated. P values are from paired t tests

Mentions:
We examined the influence of monogamous sexual partnerships on the composition of genital microbiota within couples (Fig. 1). The results showed that in the case of BV-couples, the penile skin communities of BV-males were significantly more similar to the vaginal communities of their sexual partner, compared to the other (non-partner) women in the study. This was true regardless of whether the BV-males were circumcised (P = 0.0018) or uncircumcised (P = 0.0027) (Fig. 1a). In the case of BV male urethral specimens, only the microbiota of uncircumcised BV-males was significantly more similar to the vaginal microbiota of their partner (P = 0.0015) (Fig. 1). Finally, among normal-couples, neither the penile skin nor the male urethral microbiota were more similar among sexual partners compared to non-partners (Fig. 1b).Fig. 1

Bottom Line:
Pyrosequencing analysis of PCR-amplified 16S rDNA was used to examine BV-associated bacteria in monogamous couples with and without BV using vaginal, male urethral, and penile skin specimens.The penile skin and urethral microbiota of male partners of women with BV was significantly more similar to the vaginal microbiota of their female partner compared to the vaginal microbiota of non-partner women with BV.Specific BV-associated species were concordant in women with BV and their male partners.

Background: The epidemiology of bacterial vaginosis (BV) suggests it is sexually transmissible, yet no transmissible agent has been identified. It is probable that BV-associated bacterial communities are transferred from male to female partners during intercourse; however, the microbiota of sexual partners has not been well-studied.

Results: Pyrosequencing analysis of PCR-amplified 16S rDNA was used to examine BV-associated bacteria in monogamous couples with and without BV using vaginal, male urethral, and penile skin specimens. The penile skin and urethral microbiota of male partners of women with BV was significantly more similar to the vaginal microbiota of their female partner compared to the vaginal microbiota of non-partner women with BV. This was not the case for male partners of women with normal vaginal microbiota. Specific BV-associated species were concordant in women with BV and their male partners.

Conclusions: In monogamous heterosexual couples in which the woman has BV, the significantly higher similarity between the vaginal microbiota and the penile skin and urethral microbiota of the male partner, supports the hypothesis that sexual exchange of BV-associated bacterial taxa is common.